Yesterday the 23rd round of UN COP negotiations on climate change began in Bonn, Germany. Given Trump’s intention to abandon the Paris Agreement, speculation has been running high about just what exactly the US position will be. Would Pruitt show up and throw a monkeywrench into the works? Would the US negotiators stonewall proceedings? Would Trump forget that COP is even happening?
Since the administration sent the existing State Department negotiation team, not a cadre of new deniers, we’re guessing the latter theory is the case. For the most part, actual experts will be participating for the US in the talks (here’s the full list if you’re interested).
That said, there are a few folks flying to Bonn who give some cause for concern. Brittany Bolen is an EPA advisor now, appointed there after working for the GOP on the Senate Environment and Public Works committee. Former Mitch McConnell aide turned aide-to-VP-Pence Francis Brooke is attending, as is Brian Clifford, staffer for climate change denying, coal-state representing Senator John Barrasso.
By far the most concerning Bonn attendee from the US, however, is Senate EPW staffer Mandy Gunasekara, who more or less pledged allegiance to coal country back in May. Gunasekara’s presence plus Tillerson’s “seat at the table” answer to Paris questions means it’s no surprise the administration is using its influence to push for more fossil fuels at a presentation moderated by Francis Brooke and featuring pro-coal, oil and nuclear speakers.
Officially though, US negotiators are expected to play relatively nicely with the rest of the world, and the fossil fuel industry’s blatant attempt at advertising its products at COP probably won’t have much of an impact on the actual negotiations. While the industry might not get a windfall from this COP, Trump’s position has been useful enough as a rallying cry for the rest of the world. A year ago, Trump’s ascension triggered fears of mass defections from Paris. In fact, the opposite has happened, and no other international leader has followed in Trump’s footsteps. In fact the number of signatories has increased thanks to Nicaragua, and now even Syria, joining in.
To paraphrase the Washington Post, the rest of the world seems to be “shrugging at Trump” in Bonn, while over 2,500 US-based mayors, governors, business faith and university leaders have rejected Trump’s retreat from Paris and declared We Are Still In.
Even Sir Paul McCartney had harsh words for Trump’s position climate position, calling it “madness” and urging the rest of us to do something. And that’s exactly what’s happening. Tomorrow the US Climate Action Center will open, and serve as the unofficial hub for all the different American efforts to push forward despite Trump’s attempts to hold us back.
In the words of McCartney (and the Frog Chorus), “Side by side, hand in hand, we all stand together.”
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